Thermal protection method and related system for a computer system

ABSTRACT

A thermal protection method for a computer system comprising a thermal detector, a controller, and an input/output system, the thermal protection method including the thermal detector measuring the temperature of the computer system and generating a temperature value, the controller comparing the temperature value and a threshold value, the controller periodically transmitting an over-temperature indication signal to the input/output system when the temperature value is not lower than the threshold value, the input/output system executing a temperature-lowering process when receiving the over-temperature indication signal, and the controller executing a compulsory thermal protection process when determining that the temperature-lowering process is unsuccessfully executed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuous application of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/815,391filed on Jun. 14, 2010 and entitled “THERMAL PROTECTION METHOD ANDRELATED SYSTEM FOR A COMPUTER SYSTEM”, which is included in its entiretyherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a thermal protection method and relatedsystem for a computer system, and more particularly, to a thermalprotection method and related system wherein a keyboard controller ofthe computer system executes different thermal protection processesbased on whether or not receiving the responded signals corresponding toover-temperature indication signals.

2. Description of the Prior Art

With the progress of electronic technology, hardware levels of computersystems, such as desktops or laptops, have ascended increasingly tosupport high speed operations and complex image processingfunctionalities; in the meanwhile, a trend to minimization andlightening in appearance design has also become significant to meet theneeds of both efficiency and artistry of the public. While the computersystem is performing a high-speed access, the system temperature israising promptly. Without adequate heat dissipation designs or thermalprotection functions, the system temperature would easily exceed thesafety scope in which the internal devices of computer system are undernormal operation, and hence results in decreasing of efficiency or evenpermanent damages to devices.

A keyboard controller, disposed on the motherboard of prior art computersystem, is utilized for processing signals inputted from keyboards andmice, and for detecting ambient temperature. When the system isover-temperature, the keyboard controller sends out an over-temperatureindication signal, informing a basic input/output system to deceleratethe central processing unit (CPU). After receiving the over-temperatureindication signal, the basic input/output system must respond anacknowledgement signal to the keyboard controller. If the keyboardcontroller has not yet received the acknowledgement signal, the keyboardcontroller continues transmitting the over-temperature indicationsignals to the basic input/output system until the keyboard controllerdetects that the system temperature has reached a certain value, andcontrols the computer system to turnoff. For example, when the systemtemperature reaches 80 centigrade, the keyboard controller promptlysends out the over-temperature indication signal. If the keyboardcontroller has not yet received the acknowledgement signal outputtedfrom the basic input/output system, the keyboard controller continuessending out the over-temperature indication signals until the systemtemperature reaches 100 centigrade, and at last turns off the powersupply of computer system.

The above-mentioned thermal protection method has at least twodrawbacks. First, within the duration that the keyboard controllercontinues sending out the over-temperature indication signals until thesystem be turned off, the computer system operates under a long-termhigh-temperature and results in overly increase of the probability ofdamage to internal devices; second, through the acknowledgement signal,the keyboard controller can only be aware that the basic input/outputsystem has received the over-temperature indication signal, however, thekeyboard controller cannot know whether the basic input/output systemhas controlled the central processing unit to decrease the executionspeed or whether the central processing unit has finished deceleration.Therefore, the prior art thermal protection method cannot thoroughlyprotect the computer system from high temperature damages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary objective of the claimed invention to providea thermal protection method and related system for a computer system.

The present invention discloses a thermal protection method for acomputer system comprising a thermal detector, a controller, and aninput/output system. The thermal protection method includes the thermaldetector measuring the temperature of the computer system and generatinga temperature value, the controller comparing the temperature value anda threshold value, the controller periodically transmitting anover-temperature indication signal to the input/output system when thetemperature value is not lower than the threshold value, theinput/output system executing a temperature-lowering process whenreceiving the over-temperature indication signal, and the controllerexecuting a compulsory thermal protection process when determining thatthe temperature-lowering process is unsuccessfully executed.

The present invention further discloses a thermal protection system fora computer system including a thermal detector, for measuring thetemperature of the computer system to generate a temperature value, aninput/output system, for executing a temperature-lowering processaccording to an over-temperature indication signal, and a controller,coupled to the thermal detector and the input/output system, fordetermining whether the temperature-lowering process is successfullyexecuted, and for executing a compulsory thermal protection process whenthe temperature-lowering process is unsuccessfully executed.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt becomeobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment that isillustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a thermal protection system of a computersystem according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a thermal protection process according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a thermal protection process according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a thermal protection process according to anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a thermalprotection system 10 of a computer system according to an embodiment ofthe present invention, and the thermal protection system 10 can beapplied to the computer systems, such as desktops, laptops, and similarcomputer systems. The thermal protection system 10 comprises a keyboardcontroller 100, a thermal detector 102, and a basic input/output system104.

The thermal detector 102 is coupled to a central processing unit 12 ofthe computer system and a cooling fan 14 mounted on the centralprocessing unit 12, for measuring the temperature of the computer systemto generate a temperature value T_(C), usually the temperature of thecentral processing unit 12. The basic input/output system. 104 isutilized for performing a temperature-lowering process according to anover-temperature indication signal S_(OVT).The keyboard controller 100is coupled to the thermal detector 102 and the basic input/output system104, and is utilized for transmitting the over-temperature indicationsignal S_(OVT) to the basic input/output system 104 when the temperaturevalue T_(C) is too high, for determining whether the basic input/outputsystem 104 successfully executes a temperature-lowering process, and forcontrolling the thermal detector 102 and the basic input/output system104 to perform the thermal protection process thereof, to prevent thecomputer system from high temperature damages.

Please note that the above-mentioned functions of the keyboardcontroller 100 and the basic input/output system 104 are merely in thelight of the thermal protection system 10; in practice, the keyboardcontroller 100 and the basic input/output system 104 further compriseother functions. For example, the basic input/output system 104 iscapable of controlling the start-up process, the system setting, and theinput/output of signals between the computer system and the peripheraldevices of the computer system, but those are not narrated herein.

As to the operating process of the protection system 10 of FIG. 1,please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a thermal protectionprocess 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Thethermal protection process 20 includes the following steps:

Step 200: Start.

Step 202: The thermal detector 102 measures the temperature of thecomputer system to generate a temperature value T_(C).

Step 204: The keyboard controller 100 compares the temperature valueT_(C) measured by the thermal detector 102 with a threshold value T_(H).If the temperature value T_(C) is higher than or equal to the thresholdvalue T_(H), perform step 206; if the temperature value T_(C) is lowerthan the threshold value T_(H), perform step 214.

Step 206: The keyboard controller 100 periodically transmits anover-temperature indication signal S_(OVT) to the basic input/outputsystem 104.

Step 208: The basic input/output system 104 executes atemperature-lowering process while receiving the over-temperatureindication signal S_(OVT).

Step 210: The keyboard controller 100 determines whether the basicinput/output system 104 executes the temperature-lowering processsuccessfully. If the keyboard controller 100 determines that thetemperature-lowering process is successfully executed, perform step 214;if the keyboard controller 100 determines that the temperature-loweringprocess is unsuccessfully executed, perform step 212.

Step 212: The keyboard controller 100 executes a compulsory thermalprotection process.

Step 214: End.

According to the thermal protection process 20, the thermal detector 102measures the temperature of the computer system to generate atemperature value T_(C). The keyboard controller 100 receives thetemperature value T_(C) from the thermal detector 102, and compares thetemperature value T_(C) with a threshold value T_(H). The thresholdvalue T_(H) is set to be the temperature determined over-temperature bythe central processing unit 12, such as 70 centigrade or 80 centigrade,which relates to the hardware specifications and the user requirementsof the computer system, and is not limited to specific temperaturevalue. When the temperature value T_(C) is lower than the thresholdvalue T_(H), it indicates that the temperature of the central processingunit 12 is within the safety scope, and hence the thermal protectionprocess 20 ends. When the temperature value T_(C) is higher than orequal to the threshold value T_(H), it indicates that the centralprocessing unit 12 is over-temperature; meanwhile, in order to avoidhigh temperature damages to the central processing unit 12 and otherdevices of the computer system, according to step 206, the keyboardcontroller 100 starts to periodically transmit an over-temperatureindication signal S_(OVT) to the basic input/output system 104, such astransmitting an over-temperature indication signal S_(OVT) every 500milliseconds. When the hardware of the computer system is under normaloperation, the basic input/output system 104 responds an acknowledgementsignal to the keyboard controller 100 after receiving anover-temperature indication signal S_(OVT), indicating that theover-temperature indication signal S_(OVT) has been received, and thekeyboard controller 100 also confirms whether the acknowledgement signalhas been received.

When the keyboard controller 100 starts to transmit the over-temperatureindication signal S_(OVT) the basic input/output system 104 executes atemperature-lowering process while receiving the over-temperatureindication signal S_(OVT), such as decelerating the execution speed ofthe central processing unit 12, to decrease the temperature of computersystem. In the meanwhile, the keyboard controller 100 continues todetermine whether the basic input/output system 104 successfullyexecutes the temperature-lowering process. When the keyboard controller100 determines that the basic input/output system 104 has successfullyexecuted the temperature-lowering process, it indicates that thetemperature of the central processing unit 12 has been controlled withinthe safety scope, and hence the thermal protection process 20 ends. Whenthe keyboard controller 100 determines that the basic input/outputsystem 104 has not successfully execute the temperature-loweringprocess, the keyboard controller 100 executes a compulsory thermalprotection process, such as turning off the power supply of the computersystem, or setting the revolution of the cooling fan 14 to a maximumvalue through the thermal detector 102, to lower the temperature of thecentral processing unit 12 as soon as possible. Therefore, when thebasic input/output system 104 unsuccessfully executes thetemperature-lowering process and the computer system does notsuccessfully lower the temperature, the keyboard controller 100 is ableto perform the thermal protection process to protect the computer systemfrom high temperature damages.

The prior art keyboard controller merely continues to transmit theover-temperature indication signal to the basic input/output system, andis merely aware of whether the basic input/output system has receivedthe over-temperature indication signal. Both of the above-mentionedprocesses cannot guarantee that the basic input/output system is able toperform the temperature-lowering process successfully. When a crashoccurs in the computer system, the prior art keyboard controller maycontinue to send out the over-temperature indication signal until thecomputer system be turned off, resulting in a long-term high-temperatureexecution of the computer system. Compared to the prior art keyboardcontroller, the keyboard controller 100 is able to determine whether thebasic input/output system 104 executes the temperature-lowering processsuccessfully, and performs the compulsory thermal protection processwhen the temperature-lowering process is unsuccessfully executedaccording to the thermal protection process 20. Therefore, the computersystem applying the keyboard controller 100 and the thermal protectionprocess 20 can preferably avoid the high temperature damages to thehardware devices.

The present invention enables the keyboard controller 100 to determinemore precisely whether the temperature-lowering process is successfullyexecuted. The keyboard controller 100 not only determine thetemperature-lowering process is unsuccessfully executed while notreceiving the acknowledgement signal; but even after the keyboardcontroller 100 has received the acknowledgement signal, the keyboardcontroller 100 reconfirms whether the temperature of the computer systemis lowered, herewith determines whether the temperature-lowering processis successfully executed. As to a further embodiment of the step 210 ofthe thermal protection process 20, it is depicted in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

Please refer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a thermal protectionprocess 30 according to the present invention. The thermal protectionprocess 30 is applicable in the thermal protection system in FIG. 1,comprising the following steps:

Step 300: Start.

Step 302: The thermal detector 102 measures the temperature of thecomputer system to generate a temperature value T_(C).

Step 304: The keyboard controller 100 compares the temperature valueT_(C) measured by the thermal detector 102 with a threshold value T_(H).If the temperature value T_(C) is higher than or equal to the thresholdvalue T_(H), perform step 306; if the temperature value T_(C) is lowerthan the threshold value T_(H), perform step 316.

Step 306: The keyboard controller 100 periodically transmits anover-temperature indication signal S_(OVT) to the basic input/outputsystem 104.

Step 308: The basic input/output system 104 executes atemperature-lowering process while receiving the over-temperatureindication signal S_(OVT).

Step 310: After transmitting the over-temperature indication signalS_(OVT), the keyboard controller 100 detects whether an acknowledgementsignal responded by the basic input/output system 104 is received. Ifthe keyboard controller 100 does not receive the acknowledgement signalafter transmitting the over-temperature indication signal S_(OVT) for apredetermined duration, perform step 314; if the keyboard controller 100has received the acknowledgement signal, perform step 312.

Step 312: The keyboard controller 100 compares the temperature valueT_(C) measured by the thermal detector 102 with a threshold value T_(H).If the temperature value T_(C) is higher than or equal to the thresholdvalue T_(H), perform step 314; if the temperature value T_(C) is lowerthan the threshold value T_(H), perform step 316.

Step 314: The keyboard controller 100 executes a compulsory thermalprotection process.

Step 316: End.

Step 300 to step 308 were depicted in the above thermal protectionprocess 20 and are not narrated herein. According to step 310, afterevery transmission of the over-temperature indication signal S_(OVT),the keyboard controller 100 detects whether an acknowledgement signalresponded by the basic input/output system 104 has been received. If notreceiving the acknowledgement signal after transmitting theover-temperature indication signal S_(OVT) for a predetermined duration,the keyboard controller 100 will execute a compulsory thermal protectionprocess. On the contrary, if the keyboard controller 100 has receivedthe acknowledgement signal within the predetermined duration, thekeyboard controller 100 reconfirms whether the temperature of thecomputer system is lowered. Please note that the above-mentionedpredetermined duration equals the total time for the keyboard controller100 to periodically transmit the over-temperature indication signal,which also indicates that how many times for the keyboard controller 100to transmit the over-temperature indication signal S_(OVT). Calculationof the predetermined duration can be fulfilled by a timer or a counter.For example, assume the predetermined duration is 2 seconds, when thekeyboard controller 100 has received the acknowledgement signal within 2seconds after transmitting the over-temperature indication signalS_(OVT), the keyboard controller 100 further determines whether thetemperature-lowering process is effectively performed by the basicinput/output system 104; on the contrary, when the keyboard controller100 does not receive the acknowledgement signal within 2 seconds aftertransmitting the over-temperature indication signal S_(OVT), thekeyboard controller 100 determines that the computer system maybecrashed, and performs to step 314 of executing the compulsory thermalprotection process, such as turning off the power supply of the computersystem.

It can be shown from the above that the keyboard controller 100 performsdifferent processes based on whether it has received the acknowledgementsignal corresponding to the over-temperature indication signal, and thekeyboard controller 100 is capable of preferably determining whether thetemperature-lowering process is successfully executed by the basicinput/output system 104, which is opposite to the operation of prior artkeyboard controller that even though transmitting the over-temperatureindication signal, the prior art keyboard controller cannot be aware ofwhether the computer system has departed from the over-temperaturestatus.

According to step 312, after receiving the acknowledgement signal, thekeyboard controller 100 compares the temperature value T_(C) receivedfrom the thermal detector 102 with the threshold value T_(H). When thetemperature value T_(C) is higher than or equal to the threshold valueT_(H), it indicates that despite that the basic input/output system 104has received the over-temperature indication signal S_(OVT), the basicinput/output system 104 fails to execute the temperature-loweringprocess, and hence, the temperature of the central processing unit 12still exceeds the safety scope. Meanwhile, according to step 314, thekeyboard controller 100 executes a compulsory thermal protectionprocess, which can be turning off the power supply of the computersystem, or setting the revolution value of the cooling fan 14 to ahigher predetermined revolution value, such as the maximum revolutionvalue of the cooling fan 14, through the thermal detector 102. When thetemperature value T_(C) is lower than the threshold value T_(H), itindicates that the basic input/output system 104 successfully executedthe temperature-lowering process, thereof, the thermal protectionprocess 30 ends.

Please note that in a variation embodiment of the thermal protectionprocess 30, the keyboard controller 100 may not compare the temperaturevalue T_(C) with the threshold value T_(H) but directly execute thecompulsory thermal protection process after a predetermined duration.

In brief, in the thermal protection process 30, the compulsory thermalprotection process is performed to decrease the time when the centralprocessing unit 12 is running at high temperature in accordance withsetting of the predetermined duration, and different processes areexecuted according to whether or not receiving the acknowledgementsignal. Therefore, when the computer system crashes or the basicinput/output system 104 executes an unsuccessful temperature-loweringprocess, the keyboard controller 100 is capable of executing adequatethermal protection processes to successfully avoid the high temperaturedamages to the internal devices of the computer system.

Please note that the thermal protection process 30 is merely anembodiment of the present invention, and variations and modificationscan be made by those skilled in the art accordingly. Please refer toFIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a thermal protection process 40according to an embodiment of the present invention. The thermalprotection process 40 is also utilized in the keyboard controller 100 toprotect the computer system from high temperature damages. The thermalprotection process 40 comprises the following steps:

Step 400: Start.

Step 402: The thermal detector 102 measures the temperature of thecomputer system to generate a temperature value T_(C).

Step 404: The keyboard controller 100 compares the temperature valueT_(C) measured by the thermal detector 102 with a threshold value T_(H).If the temperature value T_(C) is higher than or equal to the thresholdvalue T_(H), perform step 406; if the temperature value T_(C) is lowerthan the threshold value T_(H), perform step 418.

Step 406: The keyboard controller 100 periodically transmits anover-temperature indication signal S_(OVT) to the basic input/outputsystem 104.

Step 408: The basic input/output system 104 executes atemperature-lowering process while receiving the over-temperatureindication signal S_(OVT).

Step 410: After transmitting the over-temperature indication signalS_(OVT), the keyboard controller 100 detects whether an acknowledgementsignal responded by the basic input/output system 104 has been received.If the keyboard controller 100 does not receive the acknowledgementsignal after transmitting the over-temperature indication signal S_(OVT)for a predetermined duration, perform step 416; if the keyboardcontroller 100 has received the acknowledgement signal, perform step412.

Step 412: The keyboard controller 100 generates a revolution value R_(F)of the cooling fan 14.

Step 414: The keyboard controller 100 compares the revolution valueR_(F) with a predetermined revolution value R_(M). If the revolutionvalue R_(F) is lower than the predetermined revolution value R_(M),perform step 416; if the revolution value R_(F) already equals to thepredetermined revolution value R_(M), perform step 418.

Step 416: The keyboard controller 100 executes a compulsory thermalprotection process.

Step 418: End.

The thermal protection process 40 in FIG. 4 and the thermal protectionprocess 30 in FIG. 3 are very much alike, and the identical parts arenot narrated herein. The different part lies in step 412 and step 414.The keyboard controller 100 receives the revolution value R_(F) of thecooling fan 14 through the thermal detector 102, and compares therevolution value R_(F) with a predetermined revolution value R_(M). Thepredetermined revolution value R_(M) can be the maximum revolution valueof the cooling fan 14, or a user-defined higher revolution value. If therevolution value R_(F) is lower than the predetermined revolution valueR_(M), the keyboard controller 100 executes the compulsory thermalprotection process, setting the revolution of the cooling fan 14 to thepredetermined revolution value R_(M) through the thermal detector 102;if the revolution value R_(F) of the cooling fan 14 already equals tothe predetermined revolution value R_(M), the thermal protection process40 ends. In addition, when the keyboard controller 100 has not receivedthe acknowledgement signal, since what results in this situation is moreprobably to be a system crash, under this situation, the compulsorythermal protection process executed by the keyboard controller 100 isturning off the power supply of the computer system.

Pleas note that the thermal protection process 30 and the thermalprotection process 40 are preferable embodiments of the presentinvention, wherein the compulsory thermal protection process executed bythe keyboard controller 100 can be “setting the revolution of thecooling fan 14 to the maximum revolution value” or “turning off thepower supply of the computer system”, chosen by practical requirements.The thermal protection processes 20, 30 and 40 are realized by softwarein the keyboard controller 100.

To sum up, according to embodiments of the present invention, thekeyboard controller of the computer system is capable of thefunctionality of transmitting the over-temperature indication signal inthe predetermined duration to avoid a long-term high-temperatureexecution of computer system. In the situation that the keyboardcontroller has not received the acknowledgement signal in thepredetermined duration, the keyboard controller directly turning off thepower supply of the computer system, or adjusting the revolution of thecooling fan to the maximum revolution value. Moreover, in the situationthat the keyboard controller has received the acknowledgement signal,the keyboard controller determines whether the temperature-lower processis successfully executed according to the present system temperaturevalue or the revolution value of the cooling fan of the centralprocessing unit, and is hence more effective to prevent the hightemperature damages to the internal devices of computer system than theprior art.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerousmodifications and alterations of the device and method may be made whileretaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the abovedisclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and boundsof the appended claims.

1. A thermal protection method for a computer system comprising athermal detector, a controller, and an input/output system, the thermalprotection method comprising: measuring the temperature of the computersystem and generating a temperature value via the thermal detector;comparing the temperature value and a threshold value via thecontroller; periodically transmitting an over-temperature indicationsignal to the input/output system via the controller when thetemperature value is not lower than the threshold value; executing atemperature-lowering process via the input/output system when receivingthe over-temperature indication signal; and executing a compulsorythermal protection process via the controller when determining that thetemperature-lowering process is unsuccessfully executed.
 2. The thermalprotection method of claim 1, further comprising: when the controllerhas transmitted the over-temperature indication signal for a firstpredetermined duration and not receive an acknowledgement signalresponded by the input/output system yet, the controller determiningthat the temperature-lowering process is unsuccessfully executed.
 3. Thethermal protection method of claim 2, wherein the first predeterminedduration is the time for the controller to transmit the over-temperatureindication signal for a predetermined number of times.
 4. The thermalprotection method of claim 1, wherein the compulsory thermal protectionprocess is turning off the power supply of the computer system.
 5. Thethermal protection method of claim 1, wherein the compulsory thermalprotection process is setting a revolution value of a cooling fan of acentral processing unit of the computer system to a predeterminedrevolution value.
 6. The thermal protection method of claim 5, whereinthe predetermined revolution value is the maximum revolution value ofthe cooling fan.
 7. The thermal protection method of claim 1, whereinthe controller is a keyboard controller.
 8. The thermal protectionmethod of claim 1, wherein the input/output system is a basicinput/output system.
 9. A thermal protection system coupled to acomputer system comprising: a thermal detector, measuring thetemperature of the computer system to generate a temperature value; aninput/output system, executing a temperature-lowering process accordingto an over-temperature indication signal; and a controller, coupled tothe thermal detector and the input/output system, determining whetherthe temperature-lowering process is successfully executed, and executinga compulsory thermal protection process when the temperature-loweringprocess is unsuccessfully executed.
 10. The thermal protection system ofclaim 9, wherein the controller is further utilized for comparing thetemperature value with a threshold value, and for periodicallytransmitting an over-temperature indication signal to the input/outputsystem when the temperature value is not lower than the threshold value.11. The thermal protection system of claim 9, wherein when thecontroller has not yet received an acknowledgement signal correspondingto the over-temperature indication signal from the input/output systemafter a first predetermined duration is reached, the controllerdetermines that the temperature-lowering process is unsuccessfullyexecuted.
 12. The thermal protection system of claim 11, wherein thefirst predetermined duration is the time for the controller to transmitthe over-temperature indication signal for a predetermined number oftimes.
 13. The thermal protection system of claim 9, wherein thecompulsory thermal protection process is turning off the power supply ofthe computer system.
 14. The thermal protection system of claim 9,wherein the compulsory thermal protection process is setting arevolution value of a cooling fan of a central processing unit of thecomputer system to a predetermined revolution value.
 15. The thermalprotection system of claim 14, wherein the predetermined revolutionvalue is the maximum revolution value of the cooling fan.
 16. Thethermal protection system of claim 9, wherein the controller is akeyboard controller.
 17. The thermal protection system of claim 9,wherein the input/output system is a basic input/output system.